Obituary of Edward Stephen Penesk

Dr. Edward S. Penesk July 31, 1937- March 3, 2023 Edward S. Penesk, PhD died peacefully at home on Friday, March 3, 2023 after an escalating decline in his health. Born to Stephen and Agnes Peneski on July 31, 1937 in Brooklyn, NY, Ed was the youngest of three siblings. The family moved to New Jersey where his father set up a barbershop. Ed attended Trenton Central High School. He served as president of the Philatelic Society, sang in three choirs and became an Eagle Scout. He graduated in 1955. From there, Ed set out on a life of testing the boundaries of learning, living and love. The summer post-high school, he signed up for the Air National Guard, transferring to the Army National Guard in 1959. Ed attended Trenton Junior College and continued his education at Florida State University - School of Education. Afterwards, he took his first teaching gig at Riverview High School in Sarasota. After attaining the rank of Sergeant, a Jeep accident at the Sarasota Armory ended his service in 1961, altering his life course. Ed enrolled in East Tennessee State University. It was there that he met the love of his life while still a graduate assistant. Nancy Elizabeth King and he would be married on June 20, 1964 in Johnson City. Ed earned a Master of Arts in Mathematics from ETSU that year. She supported him throughout his educational path and professorships. The two enjoyed traveling, history, their families, healthy living and a general love for life. Their only daughter Wendy (Penesk) Landblom was born in 1965 and the family enjoyed a small close-knit bond. Ed continued to teach, moving around to places like Manatee Junior College, Oklahoma State University, Mesa College and City College of San Diego. Beyond teaching, Ed served as a mathematician and programmer in early computing, started his own psychic consulting business and had a Presidential Appointment in Science as a research psychologist with the National Science Foundation. He earned his PhD in Human Behavior from United States International University in 1972. Ed and Nancy later moved to the Pensacola area where he took a job at the University of West Florida teaching Mathematics. He retired from there in 2010. Ed was immensely proud that Wendy followed in his footsteps to become a teacher. She taught special needs children and both were known to be caring and patient teachers. His wife and daughter succumbed to the same type of cancer: Nancy in 1999 and Wendy in 2011. In between, Ed cared for his mother the last two years before her death in 2004. He is also predeceased by his sister, Dorothea Stevens and his sister, Geraldine McQuillan and her husband, Arthur, with whom he was close. Having lost so many people, Edward found his other love: his community. Throughout his time of living alone, he connected with health-conscious people, ran 5ks and 10ks, was an avid library patron, volunteered with veterans returning from war and kept up with former students and colleagues. Some of his most prized possessions were notes of thanks and gratitude, or simple updates from those that he taught. Dr. Ed, as he affectionately liked to be called, is survived by his niece, Kathleen V. Denman and her husband, Kenneth of Slate Hill, NY; as well as his grandnephews: Travis Denman of Slate Hill, NY and Stephen Denman of Sussex, NJ. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Mary A.K. Taylor of Johnson City, TN and her cousin, Patty Bradberry, who continued to be good friends to him. Importantly, Ed is survived by a community he could count on- with many neighbors and friends, both around the block and throughout the region. His lessons live on in those he taught, those he counseled and those he ran with. He was cherished and will be missed. Edward wished to be cremated and buried next to Nancy in Tennessee. Arrangements are ongoing. A small gathering to celebrate Ed’s life is being planned locally in Florida. If you’d like to honor Ed, continue to educate yourself, strive to live healthy and nurture your strengths and talents. Donations may be made in honor of Dr. Edward S. Penesk to the ‘Friends of the Pace Area Library’ 4750 Pace Patriot Blvd. Pace, FL 32571.